Rotary shelf for refrigerators



(No Model.)

F. M. LOOHEN.

ROTARY SHELF FOR REFRIGERATORS. No. 565,908. Patented Aug. 18, 1896'.

: I o k {a I I Lllli'l i 5-! lllllllln P onlwl MES'SESI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCES M. LOGI-IEN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ROTARY SHIELF FOR REFRIGERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,908, dated August 18, 1 896.

' Application filed August 2, 1895. Serial No. 557,976. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

' citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Shelves for Refrig erators and Storage-Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in refrigerator or storage receptacles, and it pertains more especially to the rotary shelves for supporting the contents and the fans by which the circulation of the air is promoted.

My invention is explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a front elevation. Fig. II is a horizontal sectional view drawn on the line X X of Fig.1. Fig. III is a side view of the shelfsnpporting mechanism, showing a portion of the shelves supported thereon. Fig. IV is a detail showing the mechanism by which the rotary movement communicated to one of the shelves is transmitted therefrom to the cen-.

-tral supporting-standard and the other shelves.

Like parts are referred to by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

A A are inclosing walls of the refrigerator.

B B are the doors.

0 C are the doors of the ice-chamber.

Rotary shelves D D D are centrally supported upon the standard E by the collars F in such a manner that, if desired, they may be rotated independently of each other upon said standard E in one direction, but when desirous to move them all simultaneously in the opposite direction motion is communicated from one shelf D, through the pawl G and ratchet H, to the standard E and from thence to the other shelves.

The pawl G is pivoted to the shelf D, while the ratchet H is keyed or otherwise secured to the standard E, and the free end of the pawl G is kept in contact with said ratchet by the action of the spring I, which is affixed at one end to the shelf, while its free end bears against said pawl, whereby it is obvious that as the shelf D is turned toward the left said ratchet will move over said pawl without transmitting any movement to it, but when moved in the opposite direction the pawl will engage the teeth of the ratchet and thereby communicate movement to the central standard and all the shelves supported thereon.

The shelves are preferably provided on their lower surfaces with supporting arms or brackets J. To the lower edges of the brackets J are secured hooks K, from which meat or other products may be suspended.

L L are fans attached at their inner ends to a collar or sleeve rotatably supported on the standard and attached to the pulley N. Motion may thus be communicated to the fans from the exterior by any ordinary motive power through the belt M and pulley N.

When desirous to support kegs of beer or other heavy products upon the lower shelf of the refrigerator, the same may be additionally supported from the stationary floor 0 beneath it by the casters P.

The spaces between the respective corners of the refrigerator and the rotary shelves D are provided with stationary corner-pieces R, the inner edges of which are made to conform to the shape of the shelves, whereby each shelf, together with such corner-piece, forms a complete partition between the different compartments, and the products are prevented from falling from one shelf to another.

The standard E is rotatably supported in an upright position by means of end trunnions S S, adapted to fit into sockets T in the upper and lower walls of the inclosing chamber. These trunnions and sockets are merely indicated in the drawings, as this construction is common for supporting an upright rotatable standard or shaft.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination within the inclosing walls of a refrigerator, of a rotary standard E provided at its respective ends with trunnions and trunnion=-supporting bearings, series of shelves D loosely supported around said standard E upon supporting-collars, ratchet H rigidly affixed to said standard E, springactuated pawl G pivotally attached to one of said shelves D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J AS. B. EEwIN, Plus F. LIMACHER. 

